Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Chef Mireille
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Aji Criolla is Ecuador’s national hot sauce. While Ecuadorian food on its own is not a spicy cuisine, the ubiquitous aji criolla is on every table and this is how Ecuadorians add spicy heat to their food. The base of this sauce is aji chile peppers, which are small spicy hot peppers. These peppers are not commonly available in the United States, although I have seen them in a few Latin markets, so I used aji pepper paste as a substitute for the fresh peppers.
There are a few Peruvian food brands that have become readily available at any good quality Latin Market and also at some mainstream supermarkets like Dona Isabel & Inca Foods. Look for these brands and you will be able to purchase the pepper paste I used for an instant version of Aji Criolla.
Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 bunch cilantro
- 1/4 bunch parsley
- 6 scallions
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 tablespoons aji amarillo pepper paste
- salt, to taste
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
Salsa Criolla – Ecuadorian Creole Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 bunch cilantro
- 1/4 bunch parsley
- 6 scallions
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 tablespoons aji amarillo pepper paste
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
Notes
Tomatoes are sometimes added. Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition
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I love this sauce Mir, would make a great dip..
I like the texture of this sauce. And the beautiful color.
Hot sauce looks spicy hot. My kind of sauce! 🙂
This looks so spicy and tasty dip , nice to go with anything!
This sauce looks seriously very hot.
I've got to look for Aji Amarillo paste. This aji criolla sounds spicy and delicious.
My family would love this dip!
That sounds really hot. By the way do you have any idea about the dishes to which it is added?
it's basically their hot sauce and added to everything from soups and stews to rice dishes and vegetables
looks yummy..i loved spicy chutneys and spreads on chapatis…this one would be good for me
super dip – bookmarking !
Wow..that sure is yum..
Wow that sure is yum.
Wow I love this sauce.
Like that creamy and flavor full sauce nice color.